Spartans celebrate Senior Night with easy victory
EL CENTRO – In a game that played more like a scrimmage than a hard- won battle, the Central Union High School Spartans took apart Desert Hot Springs 28- 0 Thursday night.
The Golden Eagles were a late replacement for Southwest High School, which had to back out of this year’s City Championship game due to a positive COVID test of an adult associated with the team.
Spartans Athletic Director Josh Wise and Head Coach David Peña had to scramble to line up a replacement because the team was also planning to celebrate its Senior Night this week.
Desert Hots Springs, which plays in the Desert Valley League, reluctantly agreed to the contest. Among the conditions was that Central would agree to pull its starters early if the contest got out of hand.
It headed in that direction pretty quickly, with a lot of help from Desert Hot Springs. At no point in the contest did the Golden Eagles punt, regardless of field position.
Following a 30- minute delayed start of the game due the visitors’ late arrival, the Spartans drew first blood after a turnover on downs by the Golden Eagles well into their own territory.
After an incompletion, Central Quarterback Jordan Reed connected with receiver Gavin Marini on a 34yard bomb to stake the Spartans to a 7- 0 lead.
After another fourand- out, Spartans’ running back Carlos Gomez on the next play sprinted for a 30- yard touchdown run to push the lead to 14- 0.
The Golden Eagles managed to get a first down on their next possession, but turned the ball over on downs at their 49- yard line.
On the Spartans’ first drive of the second quarter Reed scampered for 20 yards on a third and long to keep the drive going.
On second and goal from the Golden Eagles’ 6 yard line, Reed connected with receiver Fernando Morales to push the lead to 21- 0 right before half time.
Golden Eagles’ Quarterback Joseph Henderson in his only pass of the game connected with Christopher Easley on a 27- yard bomb, but the half ended on the next play from scrimmage.
Desert Hot Springs in the third quarter forced a Central fumble, but could not capitalize on the turnover.
Capitalizing on good field position again, Morales hauled in his second touchdown grab on the night on a 7- yard strike from Reed to push the lead to 28- 0.
The Spartans substituted freely after that score against the outmanned Golden Eagles.
Because Desert Hot Springs rarely passed, Central did not respect the passing game, and brought their linebackers closer to the line of scrimmage.
Easley had two highlight plays for the Golden Eagles.
Besides hauling in the 27- yard bomb before halftime, he also broke loose on the right sideline by breaking several tackles for a 27- yard run.
The Spartans’ punting game was also missing Thursday night, but for a different reason than that of their opponents. Simply put, Central was able to move the ball at will, so field position never became an issue.
The Spartans, 4- 0 on the season, will travel to take on the undefeated Brawley Wildcats on Friday in the annual Bell Game.